excellent one; and that if there are some particulars that one might have wished a little different, they are such as could not in the present state of things have been well obtained otherwise than they are, and if by experience found inconvenient, will probably be changed hereafter. I would only mention at present one article, that of maintenance for the clergy. It seems to me that by the constitution the Quakers may be obliged to pay the tax for that purpose But as the

great end in imposing it is professedly the promotion of piety, religion, and morality, and those people have found means of securing that end among themselves, without a regular clergy, and their teachers are not allowed to receive money, I should think it not right to tax them, and give the money to the teacher of the parish; but I imagine that in the laws to be made for levying parish taxes, this matter may be regulated to their contentment.

I am very sensible of the honor done me by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in choosing me one of their members. I wish I could be of some utility in promoting the noble design of their institution. Perhaps I may, by sending them from time to time some of the best publications that appear here. 1 shall begin to make a collection for them.

Your excellent sermon gave me abundance of pleasure, and is much admired by several of my friends who understand English. I propose to get it translated and printed at Geneva, at the end of a translation of your new constitution. Nothing could be happier than your choice of a text, and your application of it. It was not necessary in New England, where every body reads the Bible, and is acquainted with Scripture phrases, that you should note the texts from which you took them; but I have observed in England, as well as in France, that verses and expressions taken from the sacred writings, and not known to be such, appear very

strange and awkward to some readers; and I shall therefore in my edition, take the liberty of marking the quoted texts in the margin.

"I know not whether a belly-full has been given to any body by the picking of my bones, but picked they now are, and I think it time they should be at rest. I am taking measures to obtain that rest for them; happy if before I die, I can find a few days absolutely at my own disposal! I often form pleasing imaginations of the pleasure I should enjoy as a private person among my friends and compatriots in my native Boston. God only knows whether this pleasure is reserved for me. With the greatest and most sincere esteem, I am, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

TO MESSRS. D. WENDORP AND THOMAS HOPE

HEYHGER.

Injustice of the English-New law of nations.

GENTLEMEN,

Passy, June 8, 1781.

I received the letter you did me the honor of writing to me the 31st past, relating to your ship supposed to be retaken from the English by an American privateer and carried into Morlaix. I apprehend that you have been misinformed, as I do not know of any American privateer at present in these seas. I have the same sentiments with you of the injustice of the English, in their treatment of your nation. They seem at present to have renounced all pretension to any other honor than that of being the first piratical state in the world. There are three employments which I wish the law of nations would protect, so that they should never be molested or interrupted by enemies even in time of war; I mean farmers, fishermen, and merchants; because their employments are not only innocent, but for the common

subsistence and benefit of the human spècies in general. As men grow more enlightened, we may hope that this will in time be the case. Till then we must submit as well as we can to the evils we cannot remedy. I have the honor to be, gentlemen, &c. &c. B. FRANKLIN.

To W. CARMICHAEL, ESQ. MADRID.

Dr. Franklin's resignation refused by congress-Various

DEAR SIR,

matter.

Passy, Aug. 24, 1781. 1

On looking over your letters I am ashamed to find myself so much and so long in your debt.

I thank you for making me acquainted with Mr. Sonnerat. He appears a very amiable man, and is full of intelligence

and information.

We are all much obliged to Count de Montmorin for his friendly assistance in our affairs. Please to present him my thankful acknowledgments.

I thank you also for my being made known to Mr. Giusti: I saw him often, and had much satisfaction and pleasure in his conversation.

The congress have done me the honor to refuse accepting my resignation, and insist on my continuing in their service till the peace. I must therefore buckle again to business, and thank God that my health and spirits are of late improved. I fancy it may have been a double mortification to those enemies you have mentioned to me, that I should ask as a favor what they hoped to vex me by taking from me; and that I should nevertheless be continued. But these sort of considerations should never influence our conduct. We ought always to do what appears best to be done, without much regarding what others may think of it. I call this con

tinuance an honor, and I really esteem it to be a greater than my first appointment, when I consider that all the interest of my enemies, united with my own request, were not sufficient to prevent it.t

I have not yet received the works of your Economical Society, or those of its founder. I suppose you have not met with an opportunity of sending them. The letter you propose sending to our philosophical society will be very acceptable to them. I shall be glad to peruse the copy you propose passing through my hands.

Yours,

B. FRANKLIN.

TO THE REV. MR. WM. NIXON, AN ENGLISH PRISONER ON PAROLE AT VALOGNE.

Means of doing much good with little money.

REV. SIR,

Passy, Sept. 5, 1781. I duly received the letter you did me the honor of writing to me the 25th past, together with the valuable little book, of which you are the author. There can be no doubt but that a gentleman of your learning and abilities might make a very useful member of society in our new country, and meet with encouragement there, either as an instructor in one of our universities, or as a clergyman of the church of Ireland. But I am not empowered to engage any person to go over thither, and my abilities to assist the distressed are very limited. I suppose you will soon be set at liberty in England by the cartel for the exchange of prisoners: in the mean time if five Louis d'ors may be of present service to you, please to draw on me for that sum, and your bill shall be paid on sight Some time or other you may have an opportunity of assisting with an equal sum a stranger who has equal need of it. Do so. By that means you will discharge any obligation you

may suppose yourself under to me. Enjoin him to do the same on occasion. By pursuing such a practice, much good may be done with little money. Let kind offices go round. Mankind are all of a family. I have the honor to be, Rev. Sir, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

TO THE HON. DANIEL OF ST. THOMAS JENIFER, ESO. MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

SIR,

Passy, Sept. 13, 1781.

I received the 'very obliging letter you did me the honor of writing to me the 20th of June last. It great satisfaction to find, by the unanimous choice you mention, that my services had not been unacceptable to congress; and to hear also that they were favorably disposed towards my grandson, Temple Franklin. It was my desire to quit ⚫ public business, fearing it might suffer in my hands through the infirmities incident to my time of life. But as they are pleased to think I may still be useful, I submit to their judgment, and shall do my best.

I immediately forwarded the letter you enclosed for Mr. Lowndes; and if in any thing else I can do you service or pleasure here, please to command me freely. I have the honor to be, with great regard, sir, &e. B. FRANKLIN.

TO RICHARD BACHE, ESQ. PHILADELPHIA.

Mr. Wharton's pamphlet on the Indiana claims-Dr.

DEAR SON,

Franklin's papers lost.

Passy, Sept. 13, 1781. I received yours of June 20th. It gave me great pleasure, as it informed me of the welfare of yourself and the dear family.